The death toll in the Pipalkoti tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand has climbed to eight, as rescuers continue working to reach two remaining workers trapped inside the under-construction tunnel. The rescue operation remains challenging due to high water levels and bad weather.
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## What Happened
A disaster struck when a landslide-like surge of water and debris near the Birhi River tore into the THDC (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation) construction tunnel in Chamoli district on the evening of **August 13, 2026**. At the time, **22 workers** were inside the tunnel. The sudden event trapped several employees and unleashed water that flooded the tunnel.
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## Current Status of the Rescue
– **Bodies recovered**: Eight have been pulled from the site so far.
– **Still missing**: Two workers remain trapped and efforts to bring them out safely are ongoing.
– **Weather conditions**: Heavy rains and rising water levels inside the tunnel continue to impede rescue operations.
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## Agencies and Local Response
Multiple agencies are involved in the rescue:
– National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
– State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
– District Disaster Response Force (DDRF)
– Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
– The companies handling the construction—HCC and THDC—are also helping alongside NTPC in managing the water inside the tunnel.
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## Key Statements from Authorities
– **Vivek Prakash**, Chamoli Additional District Magistrate (ADM), said: “We have managed to reduce the water level. Today, one body has been recovered… We are still searching for the other two [people]… our teams expect to recover them soon.”
– Forced to fight nature’s unpredictability, he added, “Because there was so much water, we couldn’t manage it… we brought in pumps from NTPC and THDC to drain the water.”
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## Government Action and Safety Measures
Chief Minister **Pushkar Singh Dhami** has called the incident a reminder that worker safety must be “top priority at any cost.” He has ordered a **magisterial inquiry** to determine cause and responsibility.
“At the THDC tunnel under construction in Chamoli, a sudden surge of debris and water trapped 22 workers… Search operations are ongoing for the three individuals yet to be rescued,” the Chief Minister said.
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## Challenges Facing Rescuers
Rescuers say ongoing **rain**, high **water levels**, and **sludge** inside the tunnel make progress slow and dangerous. Getting pumps into the site has helped somewhat, but the terrain continues to complicate every movement.
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## Timeline
– **Evening of August 13, 2026**: Water and debris surge into the under-construction tunnel, trapping 22 workers.
– **August 15, 2026**: Rescue teams recover one more body; death toll rises to eight. Two workers still missing.
– Chief Minister orders a magisterial inquiry and insists on safety reforms.
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## What’s Next
– Continue search efforts using assistance from multiple disaster response and government bodies.
– Magisterial inquiry to report on how the flood-like event occurred and what safety lapses may have been involved.
– Root cause analysis—whether it’s geological instability, water leakage, drainage failure, or construction oversight—will be crucial.
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Rescue teams are now working around the clock to locate the final two workers while authorities promise full accountability and preventive measures. The tragedy underscores how vital it is to have robust safety protocols in place, especially in tunnel construction exposed to natural hazards.
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